Author: Halimah Olamide

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has admitted into evidence the extrajudicial statement of a co-defendant in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud. Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling on Monday, May 4, 2026, holding that the statement made by Henry Omoile to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was voluntary and admissible in court. Omoile had challenged the admissibility of his statements, claiming they were obtained under oppression and inducement by the EFCC. His objection prompted the court to conduct a “trial-within-trial” to…

The Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, has appointed a 13-member interim National Working Committee for the party. According to Wabara, the decision aligns with the PDP constitution, insisting that the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the nullification of the Ibadan Convention created a leadership vacuum within the party. The newly constituted interim NWC is headed by former National Chairman Tanimu Turaki. This decision was taken at the a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held by the Tanimu Turaki bloc of the PDP at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Prominent party stakeholders…

Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has withdrawn his ambition to contest the Cross River North Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ayade made the disclosure in a statement issued on Monday, describing the decision as a painful but necessary act of loyalty after a high-level consultation with the Presidency in Abuja. “I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony,” Ayade said. The former governor used the opportunity to highlight his contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the South-South region.…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has affirmed that the coalition remains strong despite the resignation of Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate. The Lagos State ADC Chairman, Mr George Ashiru, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. Recall that NPO had on Sunday reported that Obi formally announced his membership withdrawal from the ADC to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Reacting, Ashiru described Obi’s decision as consistent with his political history, noting that the aspirant often reassessed his positions when party consensus does not favour him. “I…

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of social media critic and blogger, Justice Mark Chidiebere, populary known as Justice Crack. This was contained in a statement issued on May 2, 2026, signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations. NPO reports that prior to the official statement, friends and activists had reported Justice Crack missing since April 28, 2026, with his vehicle spotted at a military facility, prompting urgent calls for his release. According to the army, the development followed complaints raised by some soldiers over welfare-related issues, including feeding, which were later amplified on social…

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The governor formalised his defection at the Bauchi Government House on Saturday, after obtaining his membership card, alongside members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led executives. “After extensive consultation, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),” the Bauchi governor, 67, told the gathering. “This is guided by one overriding objective: to secure victory in both states and continue to serve our people with utmost integrity,…

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have rescued six abducted civilians in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, following military operations in the Mandara axis. The rescue, carried out by the Joint Task Force (North East), took place in the early hours of May 1, 2026. The victims were intercepted around Amuda, a deserted corridor between Ngoshe and Gava known for terrorist movements. Military sources said the troops encountered the victims while returning from a successful overnight offensive targeting insurgent enclaves in the Mandara Mountains. The rescued victims were identified as Zainab Idris (18), Fatima Abubakar (17), Maimuna…

Monisola Eniola-Ashaolu has been appointed and sworn in as a Commissioner for the Upper Middlesex Commission on the Status of Women in the United States. Her appointment, confirmed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, took effect on May 1, 2026. In her new role, Eniola-Ashaolu will serve a region covering more than 40 cities and towns, including Cambridge, Lowell, Somerville, and Newton. Reacting to her appointment, she expressed commitment to advancing gender equity and improving the lives of women and girls across the state. She described the role as a significant milestone, noting that it aligns with her professional background in…

The Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, are reportedly finalizing moves to defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) next week. The disclosure was made by the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement., Habibu Mohammed. According to him, discussions with the NDC are about 90 percent complete, with only minor issues left to be resolved. Mohammed noted that both leaders, along with other political stakeholders, are likely to formally join the party by early next week following what he described as a unanimous endorsement. He added that the decision followed a meeting involving representatives from…

The Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Binani, has officially defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Binani announced her move on Friday after receiving her NDC membership card, marking her latest political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections. Her defection comes nine months after she left the APC for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Speaking at the event, Binani said her decision was based on the NDC’s commitment to structured and policy-driven governance. She added that the move was also influenced by her political supporters, who she said had already begun…